reducing behavior problems: the safe & civil schools approach · 2017-06-02 · curbing...

Reducing Behavior Problems: The Safe & Civil Schools Approach

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Reducing Behavior Problems in the Elementary Classroom—An IES Practice Guide and Its Alignment with the Safe & Civil Schools Approach

The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) was established by law in 2002 as a branch of the US Department of Education with the specific purpose of providing “rigorous evidence on which to ground education practice and policy.” (http://ies.ed.gov/director/) In this role, the IES occasionally publishes practice guides designed to inform educators about effective evidence-based educational practices.

In September 2008, the IES released a practice guide, Reducing Behavior Problems in the Elementary School Classroom, intended for elementary school teachers and administrators. The guide offers five recommendations for curbing behavior problems and fostering positive student behavior. The authors present each recommendation with supporting evidence of effectiveness.

The purpose of this article is to show how the Safe & Civil Schools model embodies these five recommendations.

Recommendation 1: Identify the specifics of the problem behavior and the conditions that prompt and reinforce it.

This recommendation is based on the premise that “the success of a behavior intervention hinges on identifying the specific conditions that prompt and reinforce the problem behavior...” (p14) The authors maintain that by observing and recording the frequency, duration, and circumstances under which the behavior occurs, teachers are more apt to design an intervention that addresses the underlying causes of the misbehavior, and thus, the student is more likely to achieve a positive change in behavior.

There are two concepts that underlie this recommendation:

∇ Behavior is changeable. ∇ Information about the underlying causes of behavior can be used to

effect a change in behavior.



How this recommendation aligns with the Safe & Civil Schools model

All Safe & Civil Schools materials are rooted in the theories of applied behavior analysis, which holds that behavior is learned, and therefore changeable through the use of systematically applied interventions based on data analysis of the problem behavior.

As one example of this, on page 1 of Interventions: Evidence-Based Behavioral Strategies for Individual Students, the authors state the behavioral principals upon which the strategies in the book are based:

∇ Behavior is learned. ∇ Behavior can be changed. ∇ Lasting behavioral change is more likely with positive, rather than

punitive, techniques. ∇ No student should be intentionally or unintentionally humiliated or

belittled.

Another concept essential to achieving lasting behavioral change is the importance of using a function-based approach to behavioral problem solving. In Behavioral Response to Intervention: Creating a Continuum of Problem-Solving and Support, a companion volume to Interventions, the authors state, “Chronic repetitive behavior usually serves a purpose for the individual exhibiting it…the purpose of a function-based approach is to develop a hypothesis about why the student exhibits the behavior, then tailor the intervention to the hypothesis (p 12-13).” In other words, knowing the reason why a student exhibits a particular behavior is key to developing an effective intervention.

This brings up the second point—data collection. To determine the why, we must have data. That data will determine the intervention.

We have long espoused the collection and analysis of data as the primary driver of decision making. Data can and should be used in every level of a school’s structure (schoolwide, classroom, individual) to determine appropriate interventions.

Data-driven decision making is the first listed feature of the Foundations process (p 4). To aid in the collection of data, Foundations includes three unique surveys on school safety as perceived by staff, students, and parents.



When Safe & Civil Schools associates work with school teams, they spend a day discussing the importance of data collection and showing them how to use a variety of data collection methods.

All of the Safe & Civil Schools resources include reproducible data collection forms (e.g., misbehavior recording sheets, observation sheets, satisfaction surveys, self-assessment checklists, behavior logs, planning forms, etc.). Each form includes suggestions and guidelines for use.

Recommendation 2: Modify the classroom learning environment to decrease problem behavior.

This recommendation relies, once again, on the precepts of applied behavior analysis, relating to the underlying causes of problematic behavior. If the problem behavior is triggered by an antecedent (existing conditions that prompt the behavior), it is possible to remove the antecedent and thus eliminate the behavior.

The authors identify triggers as “the mismatch between the classroom setting or academic demands and the student’s strengths, preferences, or skills.” (p22) To reduce the occurrence of problematic behaviors, the authors suggest that teachers:

∇ Rearrange the classroom environment, schedule, or learning activities ∇ Revisit and reinforce classroom behavior expectations ∇ Individually adapt instruction to promote high rates of student

engagement and on-task behavior (p22)


Since 1998, Safe & Civil Schools has been advocating these recommendations (and more) in the classroom component of the series, CHAMPs: A Proactive and Positive Approach to Classroom Management.

CHAMPs is designed to help classroom teachers create (or fine-tune) an effective classroom management plan that is both proactive and positive. While there are eight modules in the book, three bear particular application to this recommendation:



∇ Module 2: Organization The recommendation advises teachers to “rearrange the classroom environment, schedule, or learning activities.” In this module, teachers explore seven task, two of which address the first suggestion in this recommendation, modifying the daily schedule (Task 1), and rearranging the classroom (Task 2). Module 2 also contains a section on developing behavioral expectations and classroom rules.

∇ Module 3: Expectations The recommendation advises teachers to “revisit and reinforce classroom behavior expectations.” In this module, teachers learn about a three-step process for communicating behavioral expectations, which specifically addresses the second suggestion in this recommendation.

∇ Module 5: Motivation The recommendation advises teachers to “individually adapt instruction to promote high rates of student engagement and on-task behavior.” In this module, teachers practice six skills to aid with the third suggestion—engaging students and keeping them on-task. The second task in this module stresses the importance of effective instruction and presents five factors teachers can consider for improving their instruction.

In addition to these three aspects of effective classroom management, CHAMPs also guides teachers in developing short- and long-term classroom goals, preparing for the first month of school, monitoring student behavior and revising their classroom management plans accordingly, and using effective correction procedures.

Recommendation 3: Teach and reinforce new skills to increase appropriate behavior and preserve a positive classroom climate.

This recommendation encourages teachers to “actively teach students socially- and behaviorally-appropriate skills to replace problem behaviors using strategies focused on both individual students and the whole classroom.” (p 29)



To carry out this recommendation, the authors suggest that teachers:

∇ Identify where the student needs explicit instruction ∇ Teach skills by providing examples, practice, and feedback ∇ Manage consequences so that reinforcers are provided for appropriate

behavior and withheld for inappropriate behavior


The first point in the recommendation once again touches on the importance of collecting data, this time by observing the student or by employing a self-monitoring strategy.

Both CHAMPs (on a classroom level) and Interventions (on an individual level) guide teachers in this area. Module 6 in CHAMPs contains information and forms teachers can use to observe students and gather the data they need to determine where students need explicit instruction. Intervention K in Interventions contains detailed information on self-monitoring and self-evaluation that teachers can use to involve students in keeping records of their own behavior with the ultimate goal of making changes to that behavior.

The second point in this recommendation involves teaching methods—how do we best convey information to our students. The Safe & Civil Schools approach, as reiterated in all of its materials, involves a circular process like the one described in CHAMPs that discusses how to teach CHAMPs expectations to students (p 139). Actively teach your students the expectation (or skill) using visual displays, demonstrations (modeling), and opportunities for practice and rehearsal. Then, monitor student behavior by circulating and visually scanning. Finally, provide specific feedback about students’ performance during practice and over time. Intervention M provides teachers with a comprehensive guide for teaching replacement behaviors (skills). (p. 580-585)

The final point in this recommendation suggests that teachers provide positive reinforcers for appropriate behavior and withhold reinforcers for inappropriate behavior. The Safe & Civil Schools approach encourages teachers to:



∇ Modify conditions (organization, schedule, physical arrangement) to encourage more responsible behavior and discourage irresponsible behavior.

∇ Implement procedures designed to encourage responsible behavior. ∇ Remove any aversive aspects of exhibiting responsible behavior. ∇ Remove any positive aspects of exhibiting irresponsible behavior.

(CHAMPs, p. 33)

Recommendation 4: Draw on relationships with professional colleagues and students’ families for continued guidance and support.

The authors point out that, “social relationships and collaborative opportunities can play a critical role in supporting teachers in managing disruptive behavior in their classrooms (p. 37). They stress the importance of collaboration with other teachers and the involvement of family and community.


All Safe & Civil Schools materials contain suggestions to build positive relationships with student’s families (CHAMPs, p. 19), involve parents and community in behavior changing strategies (Foundations, p. 5), and be sensitive to the needs of different families (Behavioral Response to Intervention, p. 127). We believe that parents, families, and community members are integral components in any successful effort to foster responsibility in students and to engender lasting positive change in schools.

We also encourage teachers to work cooperatively with colleagues at every opportunity (CHAMPs, p. 25) and provide Peer Study Worksheets to help them do so. We encourage them to lay the groundwork for a collaborative, problem-solving culture (B-RTI, p. 81), and to productively involve the entire staff in all improvement activities (Foundations, p. 4). In a Foundations project, Leadership Teams learn to involve the entire staff in the improvement process.



Recommendation 5: Assess whether schoolwide behavior problems warrant adopting schoolwide strategies or programs and, if so, implement ones shown to reduce negative and foster positive interactions.

In this final recommendation, the authors suggest that classroom teachers (and other school staff) “can benefit from adopting a schoolwide approach to preventing problem behaviors and increasing positive social interactions among students and with school staff (p. 44).

They suggest that school personnel should:

∇ Address schoolwide behavior issues by involving a school improvement team.

∇ Collect information on the hot spots throughout the school (the frequency of particular schoolwide behavior problems and when and where they occur).

∇ Monitor implementation and outcomes using an efficient method of data collection and allow ample time for the program to work.

∇ If warranted, adopt a packaged intervention program that fits well with identified behavior problems and the school context.


Positive interventions are necessary at the schoolwide level. This baseline level of support should be designed to meet the behavioral and emotional needs of most students. Only when these universal supports are in place can we know that a student exhibiting chronic behavior problems needs individualized intervention. (Sprick & Booher, 2006)

Foundations: Establishing Positive Discipline Policies addresses behavioral issues at the schoolwide level. The major features of the Foundations process involve:

∇ Data-driven decision making ∇ Direction by a representative site-based team ∇ Productive involvement by the entire staff in all improvement

activities



∇ Involvement of students, families, community members, and social agency representatives in improvement activities (as appropriate)

∇ Ongoing in nature and built around an improvement cycle

The Foundations process is directed by a “school improvement team,” as suggested in the recommendation, but beyond that, the team should by representative of all school staff and be site-based.

The Foundations process is data-driven and provides surveys and observation forms that can be adapted for school use to collect information about problematic behaviors in all common areas of the school.

The Foundations process is ongoing and revolves around the following improvement cycle:

The Review step involves collecting and analyzing multiple sources of data (annually and periodically throughout the school year). The Prioritize step involves using that information to determine (or confirm/change) the improvement priorities and develop an action proposal. The Revise step involves studying suggested policies and procedures to add, modify, or eliminate in order to improve the action proposal. The Adopt step involves presenting the action proposal to the entire staff for approval or rejection. The Implement step involves ensuring that the action proposal is launched, evaluated for effectiveness, and maintained over time. This cycle augments



the third suggestion of the recommendation. The arrow indicates the ongoing nature of the cycle.

The one suggestion in this entire document that we take minor issue with is, “If warranted, adopt a packaged intervention program that fits well with identified behavior problems and the school context.” We believe this to be virtually impossible.

Schools (like the people who comprise them) are unique—each with its own culture, values, and problems. Hence, no one-size-fits-all approach (or “packaged intervention program”) can be truly effective. All Safe & Civil Schools programs and materials are designed to be tailored by school personnel to fit their particular beliefs, styles, structures, and circumstances.

reducing behavior problems: the safe & civil schools approach · 2017-06-02 · curbing...

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